Here Are 10 Benzene-Free Dry Shampoos Options That You Can Use To Save Your Hair
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We’ve all experienced the joy of a great hair day as well as the wrath of a bad hair day. Waking up with a flattened mane can be a serious buzz kill. Looking like someone dumped a bucket of oil on your head if you haven’t washed your hair in a couple of days is unsexy by anyone’s standards. If limp, dirty-looking hair is a constant battle for you — and you’re not trying to wash your hair every single day — then dry shampoo has probably saved the day at one point or another.
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Best Benzene-Free Dry Shampoos at a Glance
Best Long-Lasting: Amika Perk Up Plus Extended Clean Dry Shampoo, $16
Best-Smelling: Eva NYC Dry Shampoo, $14
Best for Dull Hair: Briogeo Volumizing Root Powder and Dry Shampoo, $25
Best for Thinning Hair: Vegamour GRO Dry Shampoo, $36
Best for Fine Hair: Act + Actre Fulvic Acid Volumizing Dry Shampoo, $26
Best for Brunettes: Acure Dry Shampoo, $12
Best for Blondes: Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones, $26
Best for Scalp Health: Drybar Detox Gentle Dry Shampoo Sensitive Scalp, $28
Best Women-Owned: Odele Dry Shampoo Powder, $12
Best Travel-Friendly: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo, $18
Dry shampoo is one of our holy-grail products. The right formulation can transform lifeless strands into a voluminous masterpiece, no water or heat styling needed. But the wrong formulation can have unhealthy downsides. Back in December 2021, there was a huge dry shampoo recall from Procter & Gamble on dry shampoos that contained benzene, “a human carcinogen,” according to the FDA. And in 2022, Unilever recalled a slew of its dry shampoos for the same reason.
We spoke to Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD, a medical advisor for the Health Reporter, who explains that benzene can also weaken your hair, eventually making it dry and brittle. “Benzene is a potent irritant, so constant exposure can damage your hair follicles, resulting in hair loss and thinning,” Barrios adds. Plus, it’s highly flammable. Pay close attention to what’s on the ingredients list, as benzene may not be directly mentioned on the label, but its derivatives, like Phenoxyethanol or aromatic hydrocarbons, may be.
But brace yourself: benzene isn’t the only chemical to avoid in dry shampoos. Talc is questionable, too, as it contains mineral oils that are bad for your scalp, says Maria McCool, hairstylist and founder of haircare brand Calista, to SheKnows. The reason talc is present in so many dry shampoos is that it’s so good at absorbing oils, which is a dry shampoo’s primary function. But talc can also contain traces of asbestos, a known carcinogen, as the two substances naturally co-exist, says the FDA. And since the FDA doesn’t require brands to test for this, there’s no way of knowing whether the talc in your dry shampoo was mined responsibly.
Now, we’re not suggesting you dump your dry shampoos or trash the idea of them completely. Quite the contrary, in fact. There are plenty of dry shampoos on the market that are free of toxins and carcinogens, and are top-rated by the customers who adore them. We rounded up eight of the healthiest, most effective dry shampoos so you can look fabulous and feel confident every day.
Amika Perk Up Plus Extended Clean Dry Shampoo
Amika’s original dry shampoo is Amazon’s number-one bestseller sitewide, and the brand has upped the ante with its Perk Up Plus Extended Clean Dry Shampoo, a longlasting formulation that freshens up your coif for up to five days using plant-based ingredients and hair-nourishing peptides. Plus, it smells like vanilla! “I am not exaggerating…this is the best flipping hair product on the market. If I had to choose just one product….ever….to use again, this is what I would choose,” an enthusiastic shopper wrote.
Eva NYC Freshen Up Invisible Dry Shampoo
This customer favorite Eva NYC dry shampoo has a lot going for it: it’s lightweight, clean and is great for damaged, frizzy hair thanks to vitamin C and fatty acids. But the real boon is that is smells like a combo of fruit, flowers, bourbon vanilla and white musk. “It smells like vanilla and coconuts, light and nice,” wrote a fan.
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo
Briogeo Volumizing Root Powder and Dry Shampoo is both a dry shampoo and volumizing d contains biotin to boost hair health. It also helps detox the scalp. “My favorite tip is to apply this before bed, let it soak up all the oils (it contains charcoal so it does this well!), and when you wake up in the morning, fluff and comb it through a little and you’ll be good to go!” wrote a reveiwer.
Vegamour GRO Dry Shampoo
$36
This Vegamour GRO Dry Shampoo is an awesome luxury option. It contains phytoactives that visibly increase hair density. It’s also got a spray nozzle making it easy and quick to apply. “Does not feel heavy or chalky,” confirmed a fan.
Act + Acre Fulvic Acid Volumizing Dry Shampoo
Act + Actre Fulvic Acid Volumizing Dry Shampoo includes only six plant-based ingredients and that’s it. It gives your scalp an instant detox from its oils and odors with no irritation while adding bounce to your hair. “Leaves my fine and thin hair extremely volumized!” wrote a customer.
Acure Dry Shampoo – Brunette to Dark Hair
$12
If you have dark hair, you understand the struggle of finding a dry shampoo that doesn’t look like powdered sugar on your hair. Acure Dry Shampoo is specially formulated for those with brunette hair to dark hair is specifically designed for people with darker hair, so you won’t have to worry about it showing up white in your locks.
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones
This cult fave Moroccanoil formulation uses ultra fine rice starches to plump up blonde and light-colored hair, and it’s infused with argan oil for hydration. “This is the best dry shampoo and swear I’ve tried them all!” wrote a reviewer.
Drybar Detox Gentle Dry Shampoo Sensitive Scalp
The brand that perfected the blowout is also responsible for a dry shampoo favorite, Drybar Detox Gentle Dry Shampoo. It’s a clean formulation that specializes in being kind to dry, flakey scalps. So if you have a sensitive scalp, dandruff, eczema or just want to keep your hair’s foundation in healthy condition, this is the benzene-free option for you.
Odele Dry Shampoo Powder
$12
This Odele Dry Shampoo is an affordable option for all hair types. It’s vegan, cruelty-free and powered by plant proteins including rice starch and silica for absorbing oil. “No white cast!” confirmed a reviewer.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo
Sometimes freshening up involves popping into a public restroom and noticing that your ‘do could use a little pick-me-up. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day makes this mini dry shampoo that’s perfect to stash in your purse for on-the-go maintenance. “My hair is actually SOFT, the greasiness is GONE and it smells AMAZING!!!!! 40/40 highly recommend, worth every penny,” wrote an enthused fan.
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